MILAN — Maserati could be heading toward one of the biggest strategic transformations in its modern history as parent company Stellantis explores a long-term partnership with Chinese technology giant Huawei and automaker JAC Group.

The discussions, which have reportedly advanced significantly, are focused on creating a new industrial and technology arrangement for the struggling Italian luxury marque. The potential collaboration could combine Maserati’s design and brand heritage with Chinese electric-vehicle technology, software and engineering expertise.

A Partnership Designed to Revive Maserati

Stellantis is examining manufacturing partnerships as part of its broader strategy for Maserati and other brands.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Huawei and JAC could become important partners in developing future Maserati vehicles. The possible arrangement is particularly significant because Huawei has developed a major role in China’s rapidly expanding intelligent-electric-vehicle sector, while JAC has extensive experience in vehicle engineering and manufacturing.

No final agreement has been publicly announced, and the negotiations could still change before any deal is signed.

Huawei Could Bring Software and Smart-Car Technology

One of the most important elements under discussion is Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility technology.

Huawei has increasingly moved beyond smartphones and telecommunications into automotive software, intelligent cockpits, driver-assistance systems and connected-vehicle technology.

For Maserati, access to that technology could accelerate the development of next-generation electric and software-defined vehicles without requiring the Italian brand to build every technological system internally.

The potential partnership therefore represents more than conventional component supply. It could involve a deeper integration of Chinese technology into future Maserati products.

JAC Could Provide Engineering and Manufacturing Support

JAC would potentially contribute another critical part of the proposed arrangement: vehicle engineering and production expertise.

The Chinese automaker already works closely with Huawei through its Maextro luxury-vehicle business.

Reports indicate that a possible future model could be marketed under the Maextro name in China while carrying the Maserati badge in international markets, although the exact structure remains under negotiation.

Such a model would allow the partners to share development and manufacturing costs while targeting different markets with different brands.

Maserati’s Sales Have Fallen Sharply

The urgency behind the discussions is clear from Maserati’s recent financial performance.

The luxury brand shipped fewer than 8,000 vehicles last year and recorded an adjusted operating loss of approximately €198 million.

The decline has made it increasingly difficult for Stellantis to maintain Maserati’s previous business model without significant changes to production, technology and product strategy.

The company is expected to present its longer-term strategy in December.

Italian Factories Could Still Benefit

A partnership with Chinese companies does not necessarily mean the disappearance of Maserati production from Italy.

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa has indicated that a manufacturing agreement for Maserati could increase production volumes at the company’s Italian facilities in Cassino and Modena.

That could make the potential partnership politically and economically important for Italy’s automotive industry.

The objective would be to use external technology and industrial capabilities to generate enough new product demand to keep Italian production facilities operating at higher volumes.

China’s Automotive Technology Is Becoming a Global Force

The potential Maserati deal reflects a broader transformation in the international automobile industry.

Chinese companies have moved rapidly in electric vehicles, battery systems, connected-car software and intelligent driving technology.

European and American automakers are increasingly exploring partnerships with Chinese companies as they attempt to reduce development costs and accelerate the introduction of advanced electric models.

The Maserati negotiations illustrate how that shift is reaching even the world’s most established luxury brands.

A Major Test for Italian Brand Identity

Maserati’s identity has traditionally been built around Italian design, performance engineering and luxury craftsmanship.

A deeper partnership with Chinese technology companies could therefore create difficult questions about how much of a future Maserati would be developed using technology from outside Italy.

At the same time, the brand’s management faces an equally important question: whether preserving complete technological independence is realistic if it comes at the cost of slower product development and continuing financial losses.

The potential deal highlights the tension between brand heritage and technological competitiveness.

The Electric Vehicle Challenge

Maserati has already been attempting to transition toward electrification as the global automobile industry changes.

Developing competitive electric vehicles requires enormous investment in batteries, software, electronic architecture, connectivity and driver-assistance systems.

For a relatively small luxury brand, recovering those investments through vehicle sales can be difficult.

A partnership could allow Maserati to share development expenses with larger technology and manufacturing organizations while concentrating its own resources on styling, performance and brand positioning.

China Could Become an Important Market Again

China was once one of Maserati’s most important markets, but the brand’s sales there have declined dramatically.

The country’s luxury-car market has also changed significantly as domestic manufacturers have introduced sophisticated electric vehicles with advanced digital features.

Working directly with Chinese companies could give Maserati access to technologies and market knowledge that might help it compete more effectively in China.

A vehicle developed partly through Chinese expertise could potentially be better suited to the preferences of Chinese consumers than an older model adapted from a primarily European development process.

The Potential Maextro Connection

The possible relationship with Maextro is particularly interesting.

Maextro is a luxury vehicle brand developed through cooperation between Huawei and JAC. Its products target the premium end of China’s rapidly developing electric-car market.

A future project involving Maserati and Maextro could therefore create an unusual arrangement in which the same underlying technology and engineering platform supports different luxury brands for different markets.

Such a structure could significantly reduce the time and cost required to bring new models to market.

No Deal Has Been Finalized

Despite the growing reports, Stellantis has not announced a completed agreement.

The company has said it routinely discusses potential cooperation with industry participants around the world, with the aim of expanding mobility options for customers.

Huawei and JAC have not publicly confirmed a finalized Maserati partnership either.

That means important details — including ownership arrangements, production locations, technology sharing and branding — remain uncertain.

What the Partnership Could Mean for Stellantis

For Stellantis, the potential deal would represent a practical attempt to solve one of its most difficult brand problems.

Instead of abandoning Maserati or continuing to fund an underperforming standalone development strategy, the company could use outside partners to accelerate the brand’s transformation.

The approach could also become a model for other Stellantis brands that need new technology or manufacturing capacity without requiring enormous internal investment.

A Turning Point for Maserati

Maserati now faces a critical period.

The company has a globally recognized name, a long history of Italian automotive design and a loyal luxury-car customer base. But those strengths have not been enough to prevent a steep decline in sales.

A partnership with Huawei and JAC could give the brand access to advanced technology and lower-cost development while preserving Maserati’s identity in international markets.

The negotiations are therefore about much more than a single new car.

They could determine whether Maserati remains an independent technological force within the luxury-car industry or evolves into a new model of Italian design combined with Chinese automotive technology and manufacturing expertise.

If an agreement is eventually completed, the first jointly developed vehicle could arrive as early as late 2027, potentially making it one of the most closely watched luxury EV launches of the decade.